Optical connector and duplex connector assembly

ABSTRACT

LC optical connectors and a duplex clip for forming duplex connector assemblies are provided herein. The LC optical connector includes a rigid latch member for positive locking with another component, such as an adaptor. The duplex clip is configured to hold two LC optical connectors to form a duplex connector assembly.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure generally pertains to optical connectors andduplex connector assemblies for optical communication links.

Description of the Related Art

Optical communication links, such as fiber optical cables, provide highspeed transmission of data with relatively low loss. In order to allowfor ease of adjusting networks of communication links, such as couplingand decoupling to various components or joining segments of fibers intolonger lengths, each end of the fiber optical cable is held by anoptical connector.

Generally described, optical connectors hold the end of the fiberoptical cable in position and engage with another component, such as anadaptor, to align the held fiber optical cable with another fiberoptical cable, which may also be held by an optical connector. In theadaptor, the two optical connectors are designed to align the endfacesof the two fiber optical cables being held by the respective opticalconnectors and to abut the endfaces in physical contact with each otherso that optical signals can travel between the abutting fiber opticalcables.

As mentioned above, optical connectors allow for ease of coupling anddecoupling various optical fibers together. Some optical connectors,such as LC optical connectors, which may also be referred to as localoptical connectors, have a flexible member that is integrally formedwith a housing. The integrally formed flexible member is used to coupleand decouple the optical connector from an adaptor or component thatreceives the optical connector. Repeated flexing of the flexible membercan cause fatigue in the flexible member of the optical connector,thereby shortening the life of the connector. This is particularlyproblematic for optical connectors used on test cords with testequipment, which are subjected to unusually high usage.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Although there are various types of optical connectors, the presentdisclosure is directed to optical connectors in the LC family. LCoptical connectors are governed by standards set by InternationalElectrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61754-20 and TelecommunicationsIndustry Association TIA-604-10A. In particular, embodiments aredirected to LC optical connectors and a duplex clip for forming duplexconnector assemblies. One or more embodiments are directed to increasingthe life span of an LC optical connector.

One embodiment is directed to an LC optical connector including ahousing having an outer surface and a cavity. A ferrule assembly islocated in the cavity of the housing. The housing includes a rigid latchmember having a first end removably and rotatably secured to the housingand a second end spaced apart from the housing. The latch memberincludes engagement members that are configured to engage with anothercomponent when in an engagement position. The optical connector furtherincludes a retainer spring having a first end abutting the housing and asecond end abutting the latch member. The retainer spring is configuredto provide a force that pushes the second end of the latch member awayfrom the housing. The optical connector further includes a latchretainer configured to counteract the force provided by the retainerspring. The retainer spring and the latch retainer together areconfigured to place the latch member in the engagement position.

Another embodiment is directed to an LC optical connector component fora fiber optic cable. The optical connector component comprises a housingincluding an opening configured to receive a ferrule assembly and arigid latch member. The latch member has a first end removably androtatably engaged with the housing and a second end spaced apart fromthe housing. The latch member includes engagement members configured toengage with another component when in an engagement position. Theoptical connector component further includes a retainer spring betweenthe housing and the latch member. The retainer spring is configured toprovide a force that pushes the second end of the latch member away fromthe housing. The optical connector component further includes a latchretainer configured to counteract the force provided by the retainerspring. The retainer spring and the latch retainer together areconfigured to place the latch member in the engagement position.

Other embodiments are directed to duplex connector assemblies. Oneembodiment is directed to a duplex connector assembly comprising aduplex clip. The duplex clip includes first and second curved membersthat are coupled together by a bridge member and first and second tabsextending from the first and second curved members. First and secondoptical connectors are held by the first and second curved members,respectively. The first and second optical connectors include latchretainers, respectively, that include protrusions that engage with thefirst and second tabs of the duplex clip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements.The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are notnecessarily drawn to scale.

FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of a side view of an opticalconnector in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a schematic illustration of a cross-sectional view of theoptical connector of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a schematic illustration of a partial exploded view of theoptical connector of FIG. 1B.

FIG. 1D is a schematic illustration of a front isometric view of theoptical connector of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a front view of a latch retainerof the optical connector in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a side view of an opticalconnector in accordance with another embodiment.

FIG. 4A is a schematic illustration of a top view of a duplex clip inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4B is a schematic illustration of a side view of the duplex clip ofFIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C is a schematic illustration of the duplex clip prior to beingbent into the positions shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

FIGS. 5A-5G are schematic illustrations showing various views of anassembly process for mounting optical connectors in the duplex clip toform a duplex connector assembly in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of thepresent disclosure are described herein for purposes of illustration,various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the present disclosure.

Embodiments are directed to LC optical connectors and a duplex clip forforming duplex connector assemblies. In particular, one embodiment isdirected to latching systems for optical connectors. The latchingsystems allow the optical connectors to engage with and disengage from aseparate component, such as an adaptor or a port for equipment. Thelatching system includes a rigid body that is rotatably coupled to thehousing at a first end. A spring is located between the rigid body andthe housing that allows a user to disengage the latching system from aseparate component by pressing on a second end of the rigid body. Thelatching system further includes a latch retainer, that in conjunctionwith the spring, is configured to place the rigid body in position forengagement with the separate component upon the user releasing the endof the rigid body. It is to be appreciated, the rigid body does not haveto flex to engage and disengage with the optical component, such as theadaptor or the test port. Thus, the life of the latching system may beextended, thereby extending the life of the connector.

FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate various views of an optical connector 100 inaccordance with one embodiment. The optical connector 100 is an LCoptical connector that includes a housing 102 having a first end 104 anda second end 106. The housing 102 is a hollow body that includes acavity 108 (FIG. 1C) extending from the first end 104 to the second end106. The cavity 108 receives a ferrule assembly 110 so that an end of aferrule tube held by the ferrule assembly 110 extends from the first end104 of the housing 102 exposing an endface of a fiber optical cable. Theferrule assembly 110 is a standard ferrule assembly and, thus, thedetails of ferrule assembly 110 will not be described in detail in theinterest of brevity.

A portion of an inner surface of the housing 102 that defines the cavity108 is shaped to correspondingly engage with the ferrule assembly 110.For instance, the inner surface of the housing 102 has a hex-shapedportion that engages with a hex-shaped portion of the ferrule assembly110. The inner surface of the housing 102 also includes a taperedportion proximate the corresponding hex-shaped portion. When the ferruleassembly 110 is located inside the housing 102, the ferrule assembly 110is pressed against the tapered portion by a compression spring 114 and aback ferrule retainer 116. The back ferrule retainer 116 holds theferrule assembly 110 in the housing 102 and engages in a locking mannerwith the housing 102 at the second end 106, which may involve aprotrusion of the back ferrule retainer 116 being received in an openingof the housing 102.

An outer surface of housing 102 includes a latching system 120 that isconfigured to engage and disengage the optical connector 100 with otheroptical components, such as adaptors or ports for optical equipment, inorder to align the fiber optic cable of the ferrule assembly 110 withanother fiber optic cable.

The rigid latch member 122 has an inner surface facing the housing 102and an outer surface. A first end 124 of the latch member 122 isrotatably coupled to the outer surface of the housing 102. In theillustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1D, the first end 124 of the latchmember 122 is located in a recess of a housing hook 126 on the outersurface of the housing 102 forming a hinge joint. The first end 124 ofthe latch member 122 is configured to pivot or rotate in the recess ofthe housing hook 126 so that the second end 128 of the latch member 122moves toward and away from the housing 102 as indicated by the arrow inFIG. 1A.

A second end 128 of latch member 122 is held away from the housing 102.In particular, the second end 128 of the latch member 122 is held awayfrom the housing 102 by a retainer spring 130. The retainer spring 130is a compression spring that is held in position by the housing 102 andthe latch member 122. In particular, a first end of the retainer spring130 rests on a raised portion 132 of the housing 102 and a second endrests in a recess 134 of the latch member 122. In that regard, theraised portion 132 of the housing 102 and the recess 134 of the latchmember 122 hold the retainer spring 130 in position. In otherembodiments, the both the housing 102 and the latch member 122 haverecesses or raised portions for holding the retainer spring 130.Alternatively, the housing 102 may include a recess and the latch member122 may include a raised portion. In yet other embodiments, the retainerspring 130 is coupled to one of or both the latch member 122 and thehousing 102 by adhesive or welding joints. While the retainer spring 130is illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C as a coil spring, other forms of springsmay alternatively be used, including leaf springs.

The second end 128 of the latch member 122 is not only held in positionby the retainer spring 130, but also by a latch retainer 136. Inparticular, a cross member 146 of the latch retainer 136 is provided tocounteract the force being applied to latch member 122 by the retainerspring 130, which pushes the latch member 122 away from the housing 102.In that regard, as will be understood by persons of ordinary skill inthe art, the combination of the retainer spring 130 and the latchretainer 136 holds the latch member 122 in an engagement position forlocking the optical connector 100 in another component, such as anadaptor. The latching system 120 includes a rigid latch member 122 thatlocks the optical connector 100 in place within the adapter or port byengagement members 152.

A front view of the latch retainer 136 is shown in FIG. 2. The latchretainer 136 includes an upper portion 138 that includes an upperthrough opening 140 and a lower portion 142 that includes a lowerthrough opening 144. The upper portion 142 includes a cross member 146.The latch member 122 extends through the upper through opening 140 ofthe latch retainer 136. The cross member 146 of the upper portion 138presses against the latch member 120 and counteracts the spring forcegenerated by the retainer spring 130 that pushes the latch member 122away from the housing 102.

The lower through opening 144 of the lower portion 142 of the latchretainer 136 is aligned with the cavity 108 at the second end 106 of thehousing 102 as best shown in FIG. 1D. The ferrule assembly 110 and theferrule retainer 116 extend through the lower through opening 144 of thelatch retainer 136. The lower portion 142 of the latch retainer 136 islocated between a surface of the ferrule retainer 116 and a surface ofthe housing 102 at the second end 106 of the housing 102. The lowerportion 142 of the latch retainer 136 further includes projections 150that are configured to engage with a duplex clip as will be discussed inmore detail in reference to FIGS. 5A-5G. The projections 150 extendbelow the housing 102 and the back ferrule retainer 116.

As shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, the upper portion 138 of the latch retainer 136has a curved shape to align a lower surface of the cross member 146 thatengages with an upper surface of the latch member 122. In particular,the lower surface of the cross member 146 of the latch retainer 136 issubstantially parallel with the upper surface of the latch member 122 toprovide improved engagement therebetween.

The latch member 122 includes engagement members 152 that are configuredto engage with another optical component when the latch member 122 isheld in the engagement position by both the retainer spring 130 and thelatch retainer 136, such as in the position shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and1D. In use, when the optical connector 100 is placed in an adapter, theengagement members 152 of the latch member 122 lock the opticalconnector 100 in place within the adapter. To disengage the engagementmembers 152 of the latch member 122 from the adaptor so that the opticalconnector 100 may be removed from the adaptor, a downward force isapplied to the second end 128 of the latch member 122, such as by a userpressing the second end 128 of the latch member 122 toward the housing102, thereby compressing the retainer spring 130. The movement of thesecond end 128 of the latch member 122 disengages the engagement members152 of the latch member 122 from the adaptor and the optical connector100 may then be removed from the adaptor. The upper through opening 140of the upper portion 138 of the latch retainer 136 guides and limits themovement of the latch member 122. In some embodiments, the latch member122 is longer than the flexible latch members that are integrated withthe housing as currently being used in the art. The added length aids inthe ability of a user to reach and press the latch member 122, as wellas reducing any stresses that may occur in the latch member 122 whenpressed.

The retainer spring 130 and the latch retainer 136 together provide aself-returning action that places the latch member 122, and thus theengagement members 152 of the latch member 122, back into the engagementposition upon the user releasing the second end 128 of the latch member122. Thus, the optical connector 100 is in position and ready to lock inanother component or adaptor. Furthermore, by providing a latch member122 that is a rigid member and does not flex in order to disengage fromthe adaptor, the life of the optical connector 100 may be extended.Thus, in some embodiments the latch member 122 can be made fromdifferent materials than in the prior art, which has been typicallyelastic plastic materials and integrated with the housing. For instance,in one embodiment the latch member 122 is made from a metal material.Alternatively, the latch member 122 may be made from molded plastic butmay be made thicker or more rigid than in the prior art since thedisengagement does not rely on flexing of the latch member 122 in orderto disengage. The retainer spring 130 and the latch retainer 136 may bemade of any suitable materials. In some embodiments, the retainer spring130 is made of metal, such as stainless steel, and the latch retainer136 is made an elastic material that is able to flex, particularly, theprojections 150, the purpose of which will discussed below in referenceto FIGS. 4 and 5. The housing 102 may be made from plastic or metal.

As will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art, the firstend 124 of the latch member 122 may be rotatably coupled to the housing102 by any suitable structure. For instance, in another embodiment thefirst end 124 of the latch member 122 is rotatably coupled to thehousing 102 by a locking hinged joint, such as a pin hinged joint orknuckle pin hinged joint 160 as shown in the optical connector 100 a ofFIG. 3. In particular, the first end 124 of the latch member 122 of theoptical connector 100 a is rotatably coupled to the housing by the hingeor knuckle joint 160, which in the illustrated embodiment includes a pinthat extends through an opening in the first end 124 of the latch member122 and an opening in the housing hook 126. The remaining components ofthe optical connector 100 a of FIG. 3 are substantially the same instructure and operation to the optical connector 100 of FIGS. 1A-1D and,thus, will not be repeated in the interest of brevity.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate a duplex clip 170 that is configured to hold twooptical connectors, such as the optical connectors 100 and 100 a ofFIGS. 1 and 4, to form a duplex connector assembly 180 (FIG. 5G). FIG.4A is a top view of the duplex clip 170 and FIG. 4B is a side view ofthe duplex clip 170. The duplex clip 170 includes first and secondcurved members 172, 174 that are generally C-shaped with the openings ofthe C-shapes facing each other as best shown in FIG. 4B. At a lower endof the duplex clip 170, the first and second curved members 172, 174 arecoupled together by a bridge member 176, while at an upper end of theduplex clip 170 is an opening between the first and second curvedmembers 172, 174. The first and second curved members 172, 174 areconfigured to receive optical connectors and hold the opticalconnectors, such as the optical connectors 100 and 100 a, to form aduplex connector assembly 180 (FIG. 5G).

At the lower portion of the first and second curved members 172, 174 aretabs 178 that extend outwardly from a side of the first and secondcurved members 172, 174. The tabs 178 include recesses 182 on opposingsides for engaging with the optical connectors when the opticalconnectors are held in the duplex clip 170. For instance, theprojections 150 of the latch retainer 136 of the optical connector 100of FIGS. 1A-1D are configured to engage with the tabs 178 of the firstand second curved members 172, 174 at the recesses 182. In particular,the projections 150 abut side surfaces of the tabs 178 at the recesses182. In one embodiment, the tab 178 is configured to flex to engage withthe projection 150.

FIG. 4C is a top view of a duplex clip 170 in a sheet material, such asa metal sheet, which in one embodiment is stainless steel, prior tobeing formed into the C-shapes and curved bridge member 176 shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B. As shown in FIG. 4C, the duplex clip 170 includescutouts (removed material) for ease of forming the sheet material intothe C-shapes to form the duplex clip 170 as shown FIGS. 4A and 4B. Inone embodiment, the duplex clip 170 is made of a sheet metal material.

FIGS. 5A-5G illustrate an assembly process for mounting first and secondoptical connectors 100 b, 100 c, which may be optical connectors 100,100 a of FIGS. 1, 3, into the duplex clip 170 to form a duplex connectorassembly 180. In FIG. 5A, the first and second optical connectors 100 b,100 c are oriented in a position with respect to a vertical axis. Inthis vertical-orientated position, the projections 150 of the latchretainers 136 are orientated parallel to the vertical axis.

In reference to FIG. 5B, the first optical connector 100 b slides intothe first curved member 172 of the duplex clip 170 in the directionindicated by the arrow in FIG. 5B while located in a first position thatis orientated at an angle of approximately 50° relative to the verticalaxis, as shown in FIG. 5C. FIG. 5D shows the side view of the firstoptical connector 100 b after having been slid into the first curvedmember 172 of the duplex clip 170.

As shown in FIG. 5E, the first optical connector 170 b is rotated to asecond position while in the first curved member 172, which orientatesthe first optical connector 170 b vertically with respect to thevertical axis. While the first optical connector 170 b is rotating fromthe first position as shown in FIG. 5C to the second position of FIG.5E, the projection 150 on the left side in the figures engages with thetab 178 between the respective recesses 182. In one embodiment, a camaction, which is caused by the left projection 150 being pressed againstthe tab 178 as the first optical connector 100 b is rotated from thefirst position to the second position, causes the tab 178 to flex. Theslots that extend inward on the duplex clip 170 aid in allowing the tab178 to flex. When the first optical connector 170 b is moved into thesecond position, the projections 150 are located in the recesses 182 atthe side surfaces of the tab 178, and the tab 178 is no longer flexed.

To hold the first optical connector 100 b in the first curved member172, the projections 150 of the latch retainer 136 of the first opticalconnector 100 b engage with the tab 178 at the recesses 182. In general,the projections 150 abut the side surfaces of the tab 178 at therecesses 182; however, the first optical connector 100 b is able to moveinside the first curved member 172 in order to allow suitable alignmentwith another component, such as a socket.

As shown in FIG. 5F, a second optical connector 100 c slides through theopening and into the second curved member 174 while in the firstposition that is at an angle of approximately 50° relative to thevertical axis in an opposite direction. The second optical connector 100c is rotated to the second position and is fixed into the second curvedmember 174 in a similar manner as described above in reference to FIGS.5B-5E but at a mirror image thereof. Similarly to the first opticalconnector 100 b, the projections 150 of the latch retainer 136 of thesecond optical connector 100 c engage with the tab 178 at the recesses182. As shown in FIG. 5G, upon rotating the second optical connector 100c second position, the duplex connector assembly 180 is formed. Thefirst and second optical connectors 100 b, 100 c are held in the firstand second curved members 172, 174 in a way that allows some movementtherein in order to allow suitable alignment with a duplex LC socket.

While the foregoing description describes various materials for thecomponents of the optical connectors and the duplex connector, it shouldbe understood any suitable material may be used. Furthermore, variousshapes for the components of the optical connectors and the duplexconnector may be different than shown and described. For instance, theprotrusions of the latch retainer of the optical connectors may be anyshape that is configured to engage with the tabs of the duplex clip.

The various features and embodiments described above can be combined inany manner to provide further embodiments. These and other changes canbe made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description.In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not beconstrued to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed inthe specification, but should be construed to include all possibleembodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which suchclaims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by thespecific embodiments disclosed.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An LC optical connector, comprising: ahousing having an outer surface and a cavity; a ferrule assembly locatedin the cavity of the housing; a rigid latch member having a first endremovably and rotatably secured to the housing and a second end spacedapart from the housing, the latch member including engagement membersconfigured to engage with another component when in an engagementposition; a retainer spring having a first end abutting the housing anda second end abutting the latch member, the retainer spring configuredto provide a force that pushes the second end of the latch member awayfrom the housing; and a latch retainer configured to counteract theforce provided by the retainer spring, wherein the retainer spring andthe latch retainer together are configured to place the latch member inthe engagement position.
 2. The LC optical connector of claim 1, whereinthe outer surface of the housing includes a raised portion or a recess,and the first end of the retainer spring rests on the raised portion orin the recess.
 3. The LC optical connector of claim 2, wherein the latchmember includes a recess or a raised portion, and the second end of theretainer spring is located in the recess or on the raised portion of thelatch member.
 4. The LC optical connector of claim 1, wherein the firstend of the latch member is rotatably coupled to the housing by a housinghook having a recess that receives the first end of the housing, whereinthe latch retainer is configured to maintain the first end of the latchmember in the recess of the housing hook.
 5. The LC optical connector ofclaim 1, wherein the first end of the latch member is rotatably coupledto the housing by a locking hinged joint.
 6. The LC optical connector ofclaim 1, wherein the latch retainer has an upper portion that is curvedand a surface of the upper portion of the latch retainer is parallel toa surface of the latch member.
 7. The LC optical connector of claim 6,wherein latch retainer includes protrusions that extend below thehousing, wherein the protrusions are configured to engage with a duplexclip to hold the optical connector in the duplex clip.
 8. The LC opticalconnector of claim 1, wherein the retainer spring is located next to thelatch retainer, wherein the latch retainer includes a through openingthat receives the latch member.
 9. An LC optical connector component fora fiber optic cable, comprising: a housing including an openingconfigured to receive a ferrule assembly; a rigid latch member having afirst end removably and rotatably engaged with the housing and a secondend spaced apart from the housing, the latch member including engagementmembers configured engage with another component when in an engagementposition; a retainer spring between the housing and the latch member,the retainer spring configured to provide a force that pushes the secondend of the latch member away from the housing; and a latch retainerconfigured to counteract the force provided by the retainer spring,wherein the retainer spring and the latch retainer together areconfigured to place the latch member in the engagement position.
 10. TheLC optical connector component of claim 9, wherein a surface of thehousing has a raised portion and a first end of the retainer springsurrounds the raised portion.
 11. The LC optical connector component ofclaim 10, wherein the latch member includes a recess and a second end ofthe retainer spring is located in the recess of the latch member. 12.The LC optical connector component of claim 9, wherein the housingincludes a housing hook, wherein the latch member is removably androtatably engaged with the housing by a first end of the latching memberbeing located in a recess of the housing hook.
 13. The LC opticalconnector component of claim 9, wherein the latch retainer includesprotrusions to engage with a duplex clip configured to hold the opticalconnector.
 14. A duplex connector assembly, comprising: a duplex clipincluding: first and second curved members that are coupled together bya bridge member; and first and second tabs extending from the first andsecond curved members; and wherein the first and second curved membersare sized to receive and hold first and second optical connectors,respectively, the first and second optical connectors including firstand second latch retainers, respectively, that include protrusions thatengage with the first and second tabs of the duplex clip to hold thefirst and second optical connectors in position within the duplex clip.15. The duplex connector assembly of claim 14, wherein the protrusionsof the latch retainer of the first optical connector abut opposing sidesof the first tab and the protrusions of the latch retainer of the secondoptical connector abut opposing sides of the second tab.
 16. The duplexconnector assembly of claim 15, wherein the first and second tabs areconfigured to: flex while the first and second optical connectors arebeing installed in the first and second curved members, and remain innatural positions, respectively, when the first and second opticalconnectors have been installed in the first and second curved members.17. The duplex connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the first andsecond tabs include recesses and the protrusions abut the opposing sidesof the tabs at the recesses.
 18. The duplex connector assembly of claim14, wherein the first optical connector includes a first housing and afirst latch member that is rigid and coupled to at a first end to thefirst housing, wherein the second optical connector includes a secondhousing and a second latch member that is rigid and coupled at a firstend to the second housing.
 19. The duplex connector assembly of claim18, wherein the first and second optical connectors include first andsecond retainer springs, respectively, configured to hold second ends ofthe first and second latch members away from the first and secondhousings, respectively.
 20. The duplex connector assembly of claim 19,wherein the first and second latch retainers and the first and secondretainer springs are configured to hold the first and second latchmembers of the first and second optical connectors in an engagementposition.